Bedstead



E. EATON;

Bedstead.

No. 25,563. Patgnted Sept. 27. 1859 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EBEN EATON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

BEIDSTEAD.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 25,563, dated September 2'7, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EBEN EATON, of Cincinnati, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bedsteads; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked there- To enable others, skilled in the art, to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction.

I first make the posts square as an ordinary square post. I then join permanently to each of the two sides of the post, against which it is intended the rails shall come, a piece in the form of a wedge A, Figure l, and also a square block B, Fig. 1. The wedge formed piece is made to be equal in width to the thickness of the rail which butts against it. The square block is about twice the thickness of the wedge formed piece, and the two are joined permanently together, and to the same side of the post, in such manner as to form a shoulder as shown at A and B, Fig. 1, so that when the end of the rail is against A, its side will be against B. \Vhile A, prevents the rail from moving vertically, B prevents it from moving laterally in one direction. The square block B is of such length as to just touch the under surface of the cross piece in the platform F, Fig. 2, when the bedstead is put together. The form of the post, and the parts A and B may be varied as the fancy directs, but it is essential that the shoulder be formed to hold the end of the rail, as above described.

Fig. 2, is the bottom or platform of the bedstead. It consists of two side rails each in one piece, and two end rails, each of which is divided into two equal parts, transversely, and hinged together at the top edge C, Fig. 2. Thus they may be folded together. On the under edge of each end rail, exactly opposite to the hinge, a hook is permanently attached to one half of the rail, and hooks into a staple in the other half, Fig. 3. The purpose of this hook is to prevent the rail from being folded together. There is extending across the platform, a cross bar, D, Fig. 9., sliding in grooves on the side rails,

and containing on its under edge two bolts,

Fig. at. These bolts push into staples on the under edges of the side rails. The upper edge of this bar is not on a level with the upper edges of the rails, but inclines downward from each end to the middle. The purpose of this bar is to prevent the side rails from bending toward each other. The rails do not meet together at the corners of the platform, but are made to be just far enough apart to receive the posts, E, Fig. 2. The ends of the rails butt closely against the wedge formed part of the posts, and are therefore not cut at right angles in their width, but at the same angle as the wedge formed piece, so that when the bedstead is put together, the ends of the rails will press tightly against the wedge formed pieces, and also the rails will be at right angles with the posts. At the corners of the platform are cross pieces F and G, Fig. 2, which hold the rails firmly and inseparably together. The cross pieces at the upper edge of the rails, are placed so far out toward the corners as just to permit the posts to come in their places. The pieces at the lower edges of the rails are placed so as just to admit the post, including the square block B, Fig. 1. There are a number of supporters, II, Fig. 2, fastened permanently to the rails, and extending across the platform longitudinally, and transversely. Those extending transversely are formed so as to fold together in the middle in a line with the hinges on the end rails. Or they may be macIe of flexible material, requiring no hinges.

The headboard and footboard rest upon the end rails. They each contain two dowel pins on their under edges, which enter holes in the end rails made to receive them. They are further secured in their places by two bolts on each which push into the posts, Figs. 5 and 6. The purpose of the bolts on the headboard and footboard, is, not only to hold them in their places, but also to keep the posts from slipping out, whenever the bedstead is lifted by the rails.

When the bedstead is to be put together, the platform is unfolded, and the hooks on the end rails properly adjusted. The cross bar is then put in its place and bolted to the rails. The posts are then slipped in their I platform of a. bedstead, with the rails 10 i places. The headboard and footboard are formed so as to fit the posts above described then attached and bolted to the posts. and all permanently connected together by What I claim as my invention and desire means of cross pieces, substantially as speci- 6 to secure by Letters Patent, is fied. p

The construction of bedposts with the EBEN EATON. l Wedge formed part and the square piece at- Attest:

tached so as to form a shoulder to receive the rail, in combination with the bottom or WILLIAM EATON, ALoNzo EATON. 

